Lightweight snow fence



Oct. 17, 1967 1.. F. ANDREWS 3,347,527

LIGHTWEIGHT SNOW FENCE Filed Jan. 20, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l LAMONT FT Auolzews Oct 17, 1967 L. F. ANDREWS LIGHTWEIGHT SNOW FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1966 P 5 I3 13 14m INVENTOR LAMONT F. ANDREWS United States Patent 3,347,527 LIGHTWEIGHT SN 0W FENCE Lamont F. Andrews. 8707 William St., Omaha, Nebr. 68124 Filed Jan. 20, 1956, Ser. No. 521,869 Claims. (Cl. 25612.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A snow fence member formed of wire mesh laminated between strips of material with vertical end clamps grasping the fence member for attachment to supporting posts.

It is common practice in areas which are effected by winter blizzards to errect wooden snow fences having a construction which embodies metal posts driven into the ground to which is affixed a fence having vertical wooden slats interconnected by woven wire so as to protect a desired area from objectional drifting snow. These interconnected wooden slats are adapted to be rolled up for transportation or storage. However, they cannot be rolled compactly, are difficult to erect, require a large force to erect them because of the bulkiness and weight thereof, and require a substantial amount of maintenance to protect the wood from the elements.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved fence of the type to prevent the drifting of snow, but is not limited thereto, wherein the fence can be folded compactly or rolled for transportation and storage, is easy to erect and requires virtually no maintenance.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a lightweight easily erected snow fence comprising a laminated structure including a wire mesh upon which is laminated suitable material to effect the disruption of windblown snow as it impinges upon the fence.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a lightweight easily erectable snow fence utilizing wire mesh fencing on which layers of a solid windbreaking material are laminated to serve the multiple purpose of stiffening the material and stiffening the Wire mesh itself while yet providing windbreaking areas to force the blown snow to the ground and yet permits the fence to be rolled into lightweight compact rolls for easy storage.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of lightweight easily erectable fencing which is well adapted for a wide range of uses wherein such uses may be for the purpose of construction barricades, inexpensive outdoor advertising signs or the like.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing only a preferred embodiment of the invention.

This invention comprises a snow fence formed of flexible wire mesh supported between fence posts by end clamps hooked by springs to the posts. Aligned strips of flexible material are laminated to both sides of the mesh for strengthening the fence and providing a windbreak.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view partially exploded showing one form of the fence of the present invention utilizing horizontally disposed laminated layers of suitable material upon wire fesh and disclosing the preferred method of mounting the fencing;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the fencing material shown partially roled in a compact easily stored manner;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view of a portion of a completed fence line showing in detail the method of attaching the fence to the supporting posts;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section view taken along line 4-4 FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section View taken along lines 55 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view partially broken away showing the special edge clamp for maintaining the entire Width of the fencing material in proper tensioned support.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the improved fence is shown in FIGURE 1 and is generally designated by the numeral 10. The fence 10 generally comprises an easily erectable structure having at least a pair of spaced ground engaging fence posts 11 between which is interconnected the novel fence section 12 which partially comprises a base portion of wire mesh fencing 13 of the type which is generally known as chicken wire. This type of mesh fencing is normally formed from a plurality of interwoven metallic wires so formed that the resulting structure comprises a plurality of interconnected hexagonal figures. While the present embodiment is described as a particular type of wire mesh fencing 13, it should be noted that any suitable flexible fencing may be utilized.

In order to effect the desired purpose, there is provided upon the mesh fencing 13 pairs of strips 14 of flexible material wherein each half 14a or 1412 of the pair is placed on opposing sides of the mesh fencing and each pair being disposed to one another in spaced relation. Each separate strip 14a, 14b of each pair is placed in registry with one another so that the resulting structure forms a laminate which includes the mesh fence 13 as the central core. The number of pairs of flexible strips 14 which are disposed upon the mesh 13 may be varied to suit the purpose and in the embodiment for a snow fence the pairs should be suitably placed so that the wind currents contacting the fence will be broken sufficiently to force the carried snow particles to the ground. It should also be obvious that while the present embodiment discloses horizontally disposed strips 14 the strips could also be vertically disposed or even placed diagonally upon the mesh fencing 13. The final construction of the fence structure 12 may be varied depending upon the utilization of the final fence structure.

The flexible strip material 14 should be inexpensive and of such material as polyvinyl-chloride plastic, paper or cloth laminate-d to the wire mesh 13 by suitable binders .to serve the multiple purpose of stiffening the flexible strips 14 and stiffening the wire mesh 13. The wire mesh 13 maintains the proper spacing of the strips 14 and yet permits the material to be easily rolled into lightweight compact rolls such as that indicated in FIGURE 2. The wire mesh 13 also prevents undue wear and tear of the flexible strips 13 since they are not permitted to flutter in the wind as is common to fencing which utilizes a construction without the reenforcing qualities of the present invention.

In order to maintain the fencing 12 between the fence posts 11 in a taut condition, there is provided at each free vertical end of the fence section 12 an edge clamp 15 which is generally of a V shaped configuration having first and second clamping sides 16, 17 respectively and a rounded apex 18 which gives added strength to the clamp structure. In the normal construction of the present inventi on the edge clamps 15 would be placed upon the free vertical edge of the fence section 12 in a manner so that the edge is disposed between the clamping sides 16 and 17 in the manner indicated by FIGURE 4. Clamp side 16 has a plurality of inwardly extending punched triangular shaped barbs 19 which are designed to be positioned through the flexible strips 14 where they occur in of the barbs 19 are suitably bent over to lie parallel with the outer surface of clamping side 17. This structure maintains a firm grip on the fence section 12 and provides means to allow an even pressure to be applied to the fence section 12 when it is pulled taut between the fence posts 11. Obviously an edge clamp 15 ,will be required on each free vertical edge of the fence section.

The resulting fence section 12 is positioned between the fence posts 11 by means of tension springs 22 having at one end thereof a hook portion 23 which is adapted to be positioned within the spring receiving aperture 24 of edge clamp 15. The other end of the spring 22 has a hook portion25 which is received within the spring eye 26 of the fence posts. In the present invention each fence section 12 will be cut to a length which corresponds to the distance a pair of fence posts, minus the distance required for the springs 22 to interconnect the fence section with the fence posts. Any practical length of the fence section 12 may be utilized depending upon the particular job that the fence is to perform.

An especially important part of the invention is embodied in the fence posts 11 which provide an easily erectable system in that the posts 11 have affixed to their ground engaging portion a drawn spiral ground anchor 27 in a configuration of a corkscrew that allows the fence posts 11 to be merely screwed into the ground rather than driven. To effect positioning of the fence posts 11 into the ground a post erection handle 28 may be positioned through the handle aperture 29 in the upper portion of the post 11, thereby allowing the posts to be rotated by twisting the handle 28 which in turn screws the post into the ground. If it is desired to effect additional bracing of the fence 10, such as may be desired when the fence is used to prevent therdrifting of snow, an outwardly extending ground engaging brace 31 is provided. This brace comprises an elongated rod 32 having one free end 33 and bent so that the rod may be received within the brace aperture 34 of each fence post 11. At the other end of the brace there is aflixed a ground engaging anchor member 35 of suitable configuration. The anchor 35 is preferably hingedly aflixed to the brace 31 by means of any suitable hinge 36. Once the fence posts 11 are positioned in the ground, it is merely necessary to place the free end 33 in the brace aperture 34 and then engage the anchor 35 within the ground either by preferably stepping upon it with a foot or driving it with a suitable hammer. The brace 31 thereby gives lateral support to the fence 10 to help it withstand the effect of heavy wind driven snow.

It is apparent that the fence 10 may be sold in any multiple of assembled sections 12 or may be sold in such a manner that the user may cut the sections 12 to his own desired length, and then install the edge clamps 15. In addition, the flexible strips may be made in reflective fluorescent colors and utilized for construction barricades, or the entire concept of the present invention may be used as a method for the construction of inexpensive outdoor advertising signs. However, the most desired use for the present fence is as a snow fence to be sufficiently strong to withstand the strong winds to whichit may be subjected and to cause the snow to be dropped in an orderly fashion against the fence to prevent drifting.

While I have particularly shown and described one particular embodiment of the invention, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention and such variations as are covered by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an easily erectable fence having at least a pair of spaced ground engaging fence posts, flexible planar metal mesh fencing extending between the spaced ground engaging fence posts and havin vertical edges adjacent the fence posts, pairs of strips of flexible material placed on the mesh fencing with each separate pair being disposed to one another in spaced relation, each separate strip, of each pair of flexible material being placed in registry with the other strip of the pair so that the mesh fencing is flanked therebetween in laminated relation,

clamping means positioned along the vertical edges of the mesh fencing, resilient means interconnecting the clamping means and the adjacent fence post thereby providing tension to keep the mesh fencing taut between the spaced pairs of ground engaging fence posts.

2. An easily erectable fence as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pairs of strips of flexible material are horizontally disposed upon the mesh fencing, the pairs of strips of flexible material further being disposed in the spaced relation endwise one upon the other.

3. An easily erectable fence as set forth in claim 2 wherein the clamping means include an elongated V shaped member having first and second clamping sidewalls encompassing a portion of the planar surfaces of the mesh fencing, the first sidewall having a plurality of barbs extending inwardly toward the second sidewall and passing through the mesh fencing, the second sidewall having apertures therein adapted to receive in registry the barbs to fixedly maintain the encompassed portion of the mesh fencing between the clamping side walls.

4.:An easily erectable fence. as set forth in claim 3 wherein the ground engaging end of the fence posts have means to permit the posts to be threadingly engaged with the ground.

5. An easily erectable fence as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means to permit the posts to be threadingly. engaged with the ground comprise a drawn spiral of stiff metal attached to the ground engaging end of the posts, and handle means adapted to be selectively afiixed to the posts thereby providing means to turn the posts to advance the drawn spiral into the ground.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 254,796 3/1882 Calhoun 25639 349,377 9/1886 White 256 -39 702,154 6/1902 Quiggin et al 256-24 X 867,759 10/1907 Saunders 25639 1,284,569 11/1918 Bikowski 256 24 X 2,020,379 11/1935 Ruppel 2564-34 2,052,774 9/ 1936 Kundert 25 6-32 2,074,688 3/ 1937 Friend 256--32 X 2,675,197 4/ 1954 Hospers 49-9 2,785,877 3/1957 Parks 25634 FOREIGN, PATENTS 165,859 1/ 1959 Sweden.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN EASILY ERECTABLE FENCE HAVING AT LEAST A PAIR OF SPACED GROUND ENGAGING FENCE POSTS, FLEXIBLE PLANAR METAL MESH FENCING EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SPACED GROUND ENGAGING FENCE POSTS AND HAVING VERTICAL EDGES ADJACENT THE FENCE POSTS, PAIRS OF STRIPS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PLACED ON THE MESH FENCING WITH EACH SEPARATE PAIR BEING DISPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER IN SPACED RELATION, EACH SEPARATE STRIP OF EACH PAIR OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL BEING PLACED IN REGISTRY WITH THE OTHER STRIP OF THE PAIR SO THAT THE MESH FENCING IS FLANKED THEREBETWEEN IN LAMINATED RELATION, CLAMPING MEANS POSITIONED ALONG THE VERTICAL EDGES OF THE MESH FENCING, RESILIENT MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE CLAMPING MEANS AND THE ADJACENT FENCE POST THEREBY PROVIDING TENSION TO KEEP THE MESH FENCING TAUT BETWEEN THE SPACED PAIRS OF GROUND ENGAGING FENCE POSTS. 